Destroy & Rebuild . . .

The kicker cover for our '59CH Project is repaired.  Pat did the excellent welding and MFMCo, McFarland Machine & Co. aligned and bored for a perfect fitment.  This is actually a 1952 / early 1953 K Model sprocket cover identified by the extra "boss" on the backside of the worm, and a few casting numbers.  Now, it's ready to kick-through those (minus minus cams) . . . .

Old 4 Speed . . .

The Cycle Nazi runs one of the older 4 speed cases I seen . . . it's been to hell and back over the years with aluminum and JB welds everywhere.  His kicker might have been slipping due to the fact his bushing was incorrectly installed (gears couldn't mesh) and the pin was sheared.  It needs new kicker gears, a little more welding, some glyptal and gasket kit - and it will match his rebuilt '49 mill . . .
Ahhhhh, the smell of old gear lube !

Busy as a Beaver on Kenyan Coffee

From the top . . .

Mac's 40th was fun !  Mitch rocked, saw a lot o' old friends. 

Cedar Rapids Swap was cold, but lot's o' cool stuff !

I'm legal !  Got my license plate !

(I feel like the guy from the Choppertown Movie !)

Down to a solid 196 from a flabby 213 !

283 Build proceeding as planned.

Talked to John Wells (Prez of Torque) One cool cat . . .

Go see Torquefest if you never have . . . 

Benassi's Cat-Eyes - Clapper did a nice job !

Morty says, Yeah, it shifts - Now go to bed . . .

Oil pump redo . . . looks good to me.  High volume would

just make it leak and smoke anyways . . .

Sifton 412 for $10.00 

Schwinn part - saved from the crusher

Cheryl learning the 6 string !

(Art by Pacman - One of my favorite pinstripers and lettermen)

Gotta stripe her guitar like this !

Do Yourself a Favor . . .

. . . and go see a flat track motorcycle race this Summer.  It doesn't have to be a pro event.  Go see an amateur event.  Pay for a ticket and pay tribute to anyone brave and talented enough to prepare their own machine and strap on a steel shoe to go fast in a circle.  You'll be glad you did !

Cedar Rapids Swap Meet

Here in Iowa every Spring and Fall - The auto swap meet at Hawkeye Downs is a good place to find cheap "motorcycle parts" . . . Yes, just like Jefferson last year.  I find some of my best deals at auto swap meets.  They have parts in two rows all the way around this asphalt track . . . and all over the grounds.  Bring your stocking hat and gloves - it's only gonna be 40, maybe 50?

Not Bad . . .

I mean . . . this is freakin' Bad Ass !

Scrambles

Every time I consider selling one of my motorcycles, I see a photo that makes me shake my head no again . . How did I get so attached to this sum of parts which make noise and take my money?????

They are just too fun and cool to have around . . .

WHERE THERE'S A WHIP, THERE'S A WAY . . .

 . . . To get a NON-STOP TICKET TO NOWHERE . . .

to go see Faster Pussycat just back from BABYLON . . .

You see - I saw the gig poster . . .

ON THE BATHROOM WALL,

and some graffiti . . . "For a Good Time Call" POISON IVY . . .

So, unless YOU'RE SO VAIN . . .

Get outta YOUR HOUSE O' PAIN

and go see Taime rock it at

The Reverb in Waterloo, Iowa this Sunday Nite !

( Come and have a drink with me . . . When else will you get to see a hard livin' rock band that's pretty shot from all those hard livin' rockin' years? - Fuckin' Aye ! )

the California Cruiser

Check out the feature on this build at MC Art (click on side link) that Chris Kallas posted on his totally righteous blog . . . with all things historically chopperiffic !

Stress relief . . .

I like all my Roth Books . . . it's fun to paint and draw kids !

Sprocket Seal Tool

McFarland's custom tool works great and makes this job easy.  Presses in the seal nice and straight when used with the proper extension and spinner wrench.  He made it with an aluminum nose and a steel insert, so you don't risk damaging the seal or the tool on either end.  Neato !

GBL

Got my carb on . . . Starts, Runs, Pops, Hesitates and then . . . 

Totally gets Down and Kicks Ass Like It Should !

Mac's Speed Shop

Stopped by Mac's on Sunday(so did the fuzz) to check in and see what he's been up to . . .  He's got a couple of half painted yellow Fords . . . with Chevy motors . . . I see a trend ?  

It's Pink and it's Loud . . .

A couple things that don't always go together . . .

TP Skat Blast - SKAT MAGIC

TP manufacturers top-notch blasting cabinet systems.  I have a TP Bench-Top Blaster (which is sadly no longer available) but, I would recommend their other free standing blasters too.  I run a Shop-Vac outside to suck out the dust.  Shown: I was blasting Ricky's heads . . . and the carbon was so baked on.  I've never had carbon I couldn't get off with 130psi of pressure with standard glass bead.  I had to really scrape the heads . . . clean my blaster, and replace the blasting compound with a new bag of Skat-Magic (from TP) and that started working.  Finally, I got them clean to my, (and Ricky's) very fussy standards.

Neglect, Loss of Interest . . ?

 . . . or No Time, Other Commitments, Priorities ?
The causes of anything that needs to be restored.

Stroker Oil Diversion . . .

The sleeve has been pressed into the existing oil passage.  The case is notched (S&S Cases come with the notch in the case).  A new hole is drilled in the side of the spigot (as per S&S Instructions) to continue oiling the piston skirt.  Hole is deburred.  The oil now flows from the top end - down the original hole in the cylinder, past the original hole to oil the skirt(blocked by the sleeve), into the notch in the case, and out through the new hole in cylinder spigot to oil the piston skirt, since the piston is now going lower than it originally did with the stock stroke - so the oil ring on the piston doesn't get in front of the original hole and suck oil and cause it to smoke like it's on fire or something.  This modification is only one part of the process.  All this for a few extra cubic inches.  Still want a Stroker?  The answer is YES !

Valve Flow TECH Tips . . .

The "Project 283" will benefit from improved flow after I back-cut the radius on the valve heads.  You can see that the valve on the left has the sharp edge removed.  I believe it's most important on the Intake Valves since the air is coming from the stem-side and into the cylinder.  The Exhaust Valve has the leading-edge on the head radiused, since the air is coming from the cylinder . . . out the exhaust pipes.